Steampunk Fantasy Books: Best Reads

1

Clockwork Angel

By Cassandra Clare

Rated 4.30 out of 5 stars, based on 881,504 reviews. 4.30 · 881,504 reviews

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare opens the Infernal Devices trilogy in an alternate 1878 London where magic, demons, and clockwork technology intersect. Sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray arrives from New York to find her missing brother and is pulled int…

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare opens the Infernal Devices trilogy in an alternate 1878 London where magic, demons, and clockwork technology intersect. Sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray arrives from New York to find her missing brother and is pulled into the hidden world of Shadowhunters, warriors sworn to defend humans from supernatural threats. As Tessa uncovers her own unusual powers, she becomes entangled with two young Shadowhunters, Will and Jem, and drawn into a conflict with the secretive Pandemonium Club. Combining steampunk elements, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy in a historical setting, the novel follows a strong female protagonist facing warlike schemes involving vampires, warlocks, and a mechanical army.

Book 1 of The Infernal Devices series

Fantasy Magic Demons Romance Urban Fantasy Young Adult War Vampires Historical Fiction Paranormal Female Protagonist Steampunk Strong Female Lead

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2

Legacy of the Brightwash

By Krystle Matar

Rated 4.29 out of 5 stars, based on 590 reviews. 4.29 · 590 reviews

Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar follows Tashué, a Regulation Officer in a grim, industrial city where those with magical “taint” are tightly controlled by the state. Haunted by his role in sending his own unregistered son to a brutal prison…

Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar follows Tashué, a Regulation Officer in a grim, industrial city where those with magical “taint” are tightly controlled by the state. Haunted by his role in sending his own unregistered son to a brutal prison, Tashué’s loyalty to the law erodes when the mutilated body of a tattooed girl is found on the banks of the Brightwash and his superiors show little interest. As he investigates, he is drawn into a web of political corruption, crime, and forbidden power that challenges his beliefs and endangers those he cares about. Blending dark fantasy, steampunk-inflected urban settings, and psychological tension, the novel centers on a conflicted male protagonist forced to choose between obedience and conscience.

Book 1 of Tainted Dominion series

Fantasy Romance Urban Fantasy High Fantasy Mystery Dark Fantasy Dark Political Intrigue Male Protagonist Steampunk Crime Detective Psychological

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3

The Orb of Cairado

By Katherine Addison

Rated 4.26 out of 5 stars, based on 1,078 reviews. 4.26 · 1,078 reviews

Set in the world of The Goblin Emperor, The Orb of Cairado offers an unlikely hero in historian Ulcetha Zhorvena.Five years ago, Ulcetha was studying at the University of Cairado, working his way toward becoming a scholar first-class in the Departmen…

Set in the world of The Goblin Emperor, The Orb of Cairado offers an unlikely hero in historian Ulcetha Zhorvena.

Five years ago, Ulcetha was studying at the University of Cairado, working his way toward becoming a scholar first-class in the Department of History. Then a prize artifact disappeared and Ulcetha, deftly framed, was kicked out. Now he works for a crooked importer, using his knowledge of elven history to write provenances for the fake artifacts Salathgarad sells.

When the airship Wisdom of Choharo explodes, killing the emperor and three of his four sons, it takes with it Ulcetha's best friend, Mara Lilana. But Mara leaves behind a puzzle--the one thing Ulcetha can't resist. And the puzzle leads Ulcetha back to the Department of History... and maybe the chance to clear his name.

Book 1.1 of The Chronicles of Osreth series

Fantasy Adult Science Fiction High Fantasy Mystery Steampunk Short Stories

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4

The Rithmatist

By Brandon Sanderson

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars, based on 75,517 reviews. 4.25 · 75,517 reviews

In The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson sets a young adult fantasy mystery in a steampunk-influenced version of the American Isles, where magic is drawn in chalk. Joel, a student at Armedius Academy and the son of the school’s chalkmaker, longs to join…

In The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson sets a young adult fantasy mystery in a steampunk-influenced version of the American Isles, where magic is drawn in chalk. Joel, a student at Armedius Academy and the son of the school’s chalkmaker, longs to join the elite Rithmatists who animate Chalklings and defend the realm from dangerous creatures massing near Nebrask. When Rithmatist students begin vanishing under violent circumstances, Joel is assigned to assist a professor investigating the attacks, working alongside his classmate Melody. As they follow the evidence, Joel uncovers hidden aspects of Rithmatics that challenge what the academy and the wider world believe about this magical art and its role in an ongoing war.

Book 1 of Rithmatist series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Science Fiction Young Adult Mystery War Childrens Academy Male Protagonist Steampunk

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5

Hard Magic

By Larry Correia

Rated 4.17 out of 5 stars, based on 16,319 reviews. 4.17 · 16,319 reviews

Hard Magic by Larry Correia blends noir detective fiction with alternate-history urban fantasy, following war veteran and licensed private investigator Jake Sullivan. Gifted with the power to manipulate gravity, Jake is recruited by federal agents to…

Hard Magic by Larry Correia blends noir detective fiction with alternate-history urban fantasy, following war veteran and licensed private investigator Jake Sullivan. Gifted with the power to manipulate gravity, Jake is recruited by federal agents to track a bank robber using similarly dangerous magic. When he realizes the suspect is an old ally whose abilities rival his own, he is pulled into a hidden conflict among rival magical cartels. As these factions maneuver for control and mark him for elimination, Jake navigates a world of paranormal warfare, steampunk-tinged technology, and escalating violence where every choice carries lethal consequences.

Book 1 of Grimnoir Chronicles series

Fantasy Magic Action Science Fiction Urban Fantasy Mystery War Paranormal Alternate History Strong Protagonist Male Protagonist Steampunk Detective

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6

Promise of Blood

By Brian McClellan

Rated 4.14 out of 5 stars, based on 64,808 reviews. 4.14 · 64,808 reviews

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan opens with a successful military coup that topples a monarchy and replaces it with a fragile new regime. Field Marshal Tamas must hold a war-torn nation together as foreign powers threaten invasion, royalist loyali…

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan opens with a successful military coup that topples a monarchy and replaces it with a fragile new regime. Field Marshal Tamas must hold a war-torn nation together as foreign powers threaten invasion, royalist loyalists plot revenge, and supposed allies in the Church, unions, and mercenary ranks pursue their own agendas. His remaining support comes from a handful of powder mages, including his estranged marksman son Taniel, and Adamat, a former inspector forced into dangerous investigations by blackmail. As rumors spread that long-forgotten gods may be stirring, this epic fantasy blends gunpowder-era warfare, political intrigue, and industrial-age magic into a tense narrative of rebellion and uncertain revolution.

Book 1 of Powder Mage series

Fantasy Magic Adult Science Fiction Gods Epic Fantasy High Fantasy War Military Fiction Rebellion Political Intrigue Male Protagonist Steampunk

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7

The Emperor's Edge

By Lindsay Buroker

Rated 4.08 out of 5 stars, based on 16,094 reviews. 4.08 · 16,094 reviews

The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker introduces Amaranthe Lokdon, an imperial law enforcer whose practical skills and stubborn sense of duty are tested when mutilated corpses appear along the waterfront and a suspicious fire masks evidence of ritual…

The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker introduces Amaranthe Lokdon, an imperial law enforcer whose practical skills and stubborn sense of duty are tested when mutilated corpses appear along the waterfront and a suspicious fire masks evidence of ritual killings. As she traces the links between these crimes and a powerful commercial alliance plotting against the emperor, she is ordered to pursue Sicarius, the empire’s most feared assassin, who seems entangled in the same conspiracy. Forced to question her superiors’ motives and her own survival odds, Amaranthe navigates a steampunk-flavored imperial city where magic, political intrigue, and covert warfare intersect. The tone blends fast-paced adventure, mystery, and slow-building romantic tension within an adult fantasy setting.

Book 1 of The Emperor's Edge series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Adult Romance Science Fiction Urban Fantasy Mystery Political Intrigue Assassins Female Protagonist Steampunk Suspense Strong Female Lead

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8

The Goblin Emperor

By Katherine Addison

Rated 4.07 out of 5 stars, based on 55,799 reviews. 4.07 · 55,799 reviews

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison follows Maia, a half-goblin prince raised in isolation who is abruptly elevated to the throne after a fatal airship disaster wipes out the rest of the imperial heirs. Thrust into an elaborate Elven court he bar…

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison follows Maia, a half-goblin prince raised in isolation who is abruptly elevated to the throne after a fatal airship disaster wipes out the rest of the imperial heirs. Thrust into an elaborate Elven court he barely understands, Maia must navigate rigid protocol, political factions, and subtle technologies in a setting that blends high fantasy with hints of steampunk. As he faces covert schemes, pressure to secure a strategic marriage, and the unresolved mystery behind the so-called accident, his inexperience becomes both a vulnerability and an unexpected strength. The novel focuses less on warfare and more on character, governance, and the ethics of power within a richly detailed secondary world.

Book 1 of The Chronicles of Osreth series

Fantasy Adult Science Fiction High Fantasy Mystery Steampunk Short Stories

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9

The Golden Compass

By Philip Pullman

Rated 4.03 out of 5 stars, based on 1,628,061 reviews. 4.03 · 1,628,061 reviews

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman follows Lyra Belacqua, a sharp and headstrong girl growing up in an alternate Oxford where science, theology, and magic intersect. When children begin disappearing, including her friend Roger, Lyra travels to the…

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman follows Lyra Belacqua, a sharp and headstrong girl growing up in an alternate Oxford where science, theology, and magic intersect. When children begin disappearing, including her friend Roger, Lyra travels to the frozen North, a landscape of witch clans, armored bears, and experimental horrors. Guided by a mysterious truth-telling instrument and accompanied by her shape-shifting dæmon, she becomes entangled in Lord Asriel’s dangerous research into parallel worlds and cosmic forces. As war looms, Lyra must decide where her loyalties lie, knowing that saving one person she loves may mean betraying another.

Book 1 of His Dark Materials series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Science Fiction Young Adult War Classics Childrens Witches Strong Protagonist Female Protagonist Steampunk

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10

A Winter's Promise

By Christelle Dabos, Hildegarde Serle

Rated 4.01 out of 5 stars, based on 126,101 reviews. 4.01 · 126,101 reviews

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos, translated by Hildegarde Serle, introduces Ophelia, a reserved young woman whose talent for reading the past of objects and traveling through mirrors sets her apart on the ark of Anima. When she is forced into…

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos, translated by Hildegarde Serle, introduces Ophelia, a reserved young woman whose talent for reading the past of objects and traveling through mirrors sets her apart on the ark of Anima. When she is forced into an arranged marriage with Thorn of the influential Dragon clan, she is uprooted to the distant, politically charged ark of the Pole, where court factions and ancestral powers shape every interaction. As Ophelia navigates this rigid, often hostile ruling class, she must conceal her abilities and identity while uncovering why she has been selected for this alliance. The novel blends high fantasy worldbuilding, subtle steampunk elements, and slow-building romance with an undercurrent of suspense and intricate political intrigue.

Book 1 of La Passe-Miroir series

Fantasy Magic Romance High Fantasy Young Adult Ruling Class Political Intrigue Female Protagonist Steampunk Suspense Strong Female Lead

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Steampunk Fantasy Books: Best Reads

NSFW

Light Novels, Comics & Manga

LGBTQ+ themes

Protagonist

Clockwork Angel

Legacy of the Brightwash

The Orb of Cairado

The Rithmatist

Hard Magic

Promise of Blood

The Emperor's Edge

The Goblin Emperor

The Golden Compass

A Winter's Promise